Build out help

[Mazer]

It looks like I’ll be getting a van at the end of January for a full-time live-in situation and I was wondering if there was a place I could go to since the build out is going to be long gone, To get the van built out I do not have any carpentry skills nor electricity skills and I am interested in contacting somebody who has experience but is not gonna cost an arm and a leg -  The van is costing an arm and a leg!! Thanks

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Mazer! I can't recommend anyone but some of our members may be interested in helping with your build. Hopefully they'll chime in but in the meantime check out some of the simpler builds. You can do a lot with a cot and storage containers.

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips, Tricks and Rules" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[Mazer]

Thanks, however I am really looking for a full build out asap after purchasing my van, thanks

 

[Matildas mate]

It’s difficuflt to provide advice when you don’t define exactly what you mean by a “full build out.” Can you provide more information? It is my experience that full build outs from a custom upfitter like Sportsmobile are anything but inexpensive.

 

[Mazer]

It’s difficuflt to provide advice when you don’t define exactly what you mean by a “full build out.” Can you provide more information? It is my experience that full build outs from a custom upfitter like Sportsmobile are anything but inexpensive.

No worries, so I am getting a van.....and will need to install everything I need which is not van. Simple.
They can be expensive or not, depending on where you go and who you hire. I have friends, but none are carpenters or electricians, which is what I need most of, hopefully people who are experienced at building out vans for living in.

 

[squire]

No worries, so I am getting a van.....and will need to install everything I need which is not van. Simple.
They can be expensive or not, depending on where you go and who you hire. I have friends, but none are carpenters or electricians, which is what I need most of, hopefully people who are experienced at building out vans for living in.

We are not trying to pick on you but read your first sentence...…. 

[font=Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Sans-Serif]"No worries, so I am getting a van.....and will need to install everything I need which is not van. Simple."[/font]

that sentence tells us "nothing" as we do not know what you think you "need". It could mean anything from a sleeping bag, camp stove and a cooler to a full class B motorhome conversion or anything in between.

 

[DannyB1954]

You might try taking out a Craigslist add and offering an amount of money for the job that you want done. It can take several days labor to insulate and panel a van. Nothing in a van is square, straight, or level. Just about every cut needs a pattern made to do it. Several more days for electrical work, (install batteries,solar panels, inverters, chargers, lighting circuits, fuse boxes, run wires, etc. , and then several more days to build beds and cabinets. When I built out my van I thought a couple of weeks ought to get it done. It was more like a couple of months working on it when I could, (and I am retired).

Most people want to get paid for their time and effort. They know how to clean a house, but don't go around cleaning houses for free to help the old or disabled. They somehow feel that others should work for them either for free or dirt cheap. For a couple of hundred you can buy a Ryobi power tool kit and a ruler and watch Youtube videos to learn how to use them. How much money would you work a week or month for? How much money do you think a skilled craftsman should work a week or month for?

The other option is go basic at first. A good sleeping bag, a cot, cooler, camp stove, water jugs, some plastic storage boxes, a bucket complete with plastic bags and toilet paper. The money you save not paying rent can go to paying a craftsman. Good luck.

 

[maki2]

The first thing to do is head to youtube and use the keywords "van build" to pull up some videos. Then bookmark the videos that show things you like. Then when you get to a point in the video that has a good image of the feature you like stop the video and use an image capture to turn it into a jpg you can store in a file or print out for a notebook.

If you are going to hire anyone they need to see exactly what it is you want to have built inside your van.

So that means you have some homework to do before you begin shopping for a carpenter or electrician. When you are done with your homework go shopping for the help. They can't give you an estimate if they don't know what it is they are going to build.

 

[Bathyio]

This helps.

 

[Doubleone]

What exactly do you consider a "full build out" and everything "not van".   Some people are happy with a Styrofoam ice chest, a 5 gallon bucket, some plastic drawer shelves, a jug of water, and a camping cot or piece of foam... done!  What exactly do you want to do?  How much do you want to spend?  Good, cheap, quick; pic any two...

 

[Mazer]

What exactly do you consider a "full build out" and everything "not van".   Some people are happy with a Styrofoam ice chest, a 5 gallon bucket, some plastic drawer shelves, a jug of water, and a camping cot or piece of foam... done!  What exactly do you want to do?  How much do you want to spend?  Good, cheap, quick; pic any two...

Looks like you all are not getting my message. So I will go elsewhere, thanks anyway

 

[Mazer]

I don't get what is so hard to figure out about the term BUILD OUT, and needing everything but the van....Thanks for the suggestions to change my way of communicating, but that is not helpful. I have found some  companies which do BUILD OUTS. through Google, so apparently someone understood what I was asking for. Have a great day

 

[tx2sturgis]

To get the van built out I do not have any carpentry skills nor electricity skills and I am interested in contacting somebody who has experience but is not gonna cost an arm and a leg -  The van is costing an arm and a leg!! 

{snip}

I don't get what is so hard to figure out about the term BUILD OUT, and needing everything but the van....Thanks for the suggestions to change my way of communicating, but that is not helpful.

 
Wow...I've seen 'build-outs' for $500 that took a few days and I've seen 'build-outs' that consumed $25,000 and took six months.

Can you narrow it down just a bit? What is your definition of 'an arm and a leg'?

When people are trying to be helpful it's probably not in your best interest to act dismissive.

I also think you might have some difficulty in your future 'build-out' communicating with your contractor. 

We wish you good luck with it, regardless.

 

[squire]

 
Wow...I've seen 'build-outs' for $500 that took a few days and I've seen 'build-outs' that consumed $25,000 and took six months.

Can you narrow it down just a bit? What is your definition of 'an arm and a leg'?

When people are trying to be helpful it's probably not in your best interest to act dismissive.

I also think you might have some difficulty in your future 'build-out' communicating with your contractor. 

We wish you good luck with it, regardless.

Amen brother, very reply I read was trying to be helpful.

 

[bonvanroulez]

This is a "BUILD OUT":




And this is a "BUILD OUT":





:angel:

 

[Cammalu]

I’ll take the second one! Looks like a Leisure Travel Van?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Matildas mate]

I like the first one. Easy to maintain, easy to change.

Goes to show ... lots of definitions of a build out.

 

[Doubleone]

Mazer,  

You asked for help with your ‘build out’.  Help was offered in the form of interrogatories seeking to understand your specific desires and needs, and all attempts at providing you help were curtly dismissed.  Ouch!!!  Everyone kindly shared wisdom and/or asked questions to determine exactly what you had in mind for your build out.  The truth is your personal build out can be anything from a simple no-frills plywood platform to a high-end marine-quality teak wood interior with all the electronic bells and whistles.  Different people have different needs. Every post in this thread revolves around you and what you want.  But you were consistently vague in your concept of a build out, and never directly answered questions or stated exactly what it was that you wanted.  People are not mind readers.  Consider, if everyone else doesn’t understand you, and you’re the only one that understands, then perhaps the obstacle isn’t everyone else… it's a communication issue.

I don’t know you or your situation, but I sense an air of frustration in your posts, or perhaps some past hurt that causes you to lash-out at others in negative ways and sabotage relationships.  Know that free help is always a gift.  What you fail to realize is that you were offered so many gifts from so many respondents but you promptly dismissed all, questioning the value of the gifts, and diminishing the gift givers through the tenor of your posts.  What's that old saying about looking a horse in the mouth...?  

I replied to your post and attempted to help because I firmly believe that people who fail to achieve their dreams tend to become bitter; the world is already full of way too many bitter people, and I didn't want you to be one of them.  Please understand, I already have love and affirmation in my life; I'm not required to reply or help, I'm not going to miss any meals or suffer consequence, and I don't extend help solely to benefit myself.  I choose to help others because I enjoy watching people succeed and find happiness.  So, I’ll readily offer help to most anyone, and if people don't accept my help then I'm fine with that.  However, if someone is particularly difficult to deal with or way too much drama, then I won't offer again.  I'm just not into spending my time, energy, and talents on vexatious people and situations.  Please try to be more open and tolerant toward others, especially with people who are trying to help you and do something nice for you. 

So, let's take a step back and try this again... If you can provide a better description of what your vision is for your ultimate build out, then I'm certain the collective knowledge will kick in and give you every answer you want to know, and likely answer some questions you haven't yet thought of...  I sincerely wish you success and happiness in your quest…

 

[Doubleone]

Bonvanroulez, thanks for that second pic, actually inspired an idea for a future build.

 

[ByeBye]

Sounds entitled to me. A little humility goes a long way when asking for help.